Flux-core welding
How does flux-core welding work?
Quick answer
Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW — gasless MIG): a hollow wire with flux inside generates its own shield — MIG-style trigger action without gas bottles. It trades some refinement for independence from gas bottles and clean steel.
What's happening at the arc
In Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW — gasless MIG), an electric arc (or, for laser, a focused beam) delivers intense localized heat that melts the base metal and, where used, the filler. The flux system generates its own shielding, which is why the process works outdoors and on imperfect metal.
Where it fits in Australian workshops
Gasless is the default recommendation for Australian paddock and fence work, where wind makes gas MIG impossible.
Settings by thickness
| Thickness | Wire | Current |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5–2 mm | 0.9 mm | 60–110 A |
| 3 mm | 0.9 mm | 110–150 A |
| 6 mm+ | 1.2 mm | 160–230 A |
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